CCC Coastal Fisheries Restoration Program

The Coastal Fisheries Restoration Program is a series of success stories stretching over nearly 28 years. The program began as a partnership between the CCC, California Department of Fish and Game, and private and public landowners. This emphasis on partnerships continues and accounts for the program’s success, providing environmental improvement, economic benefits, and stories of personal triumph for the youth that participate. A partnership with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration enabled the CCC and DFG to build capacity for additional collaborative efforts and expand the CCC’s fisheries restoration activities from California’s remote North Coast south to Ventura County in Southern California.

How Does it Work?

A stream assessment is conducted by California Conservation Corps fish habitat specialists, Fish and Game biologists, CCC/AmeriCorps Watershed Stewards and other watershed restoration experts.  A second, more detailed survey is conducted if initial findings determine a stream or watershed will benefit from restoration.  The scientific data collected during these visits is then used to develop a site-specific restoration plan.

Guided and supervised by California Department of Fish and Game and California Conservation Corps habitat staff, the CCC Fisheries Restoration crews implement the restoration site plan. Once completed, biologists check the site, add it to the restoration database, and monitor it for effectiveness and structural integrity for up to ten years. 

Typical CCC restoration projects include modifying barriers to fish passage, planting trees in the riparian zones, reducing upslope sediment sources, stabilizing stream banks through bioengineering and log/ boulder structures, building livestock exclusion fences, constructing in-stream habitat structures for pool development and spawning gravel retention, and installing logs and root wads that serve as cover structures in pool and flat water habitats.  Restoration work is focused on streams and watersheds that have the greatest ability to increase threatened and endangered salmonid populations over the long term.

Economic Benefits

The fisheries populations that benefit from the Restoration Program are the source of more than $17 billion in revenue to California.  Commercial, sport and subsistence fishing is enhanced by improved fish runs.  Local businesses such as motels, restaurants, sporting good stores, gas stations and fishing guide services also benefit from restoration efforts as they are dependent on money generated through restoration project work.  The scientific information that is compiled on the health of the watersheds is shared between large and small landowners and state and federal agencies, fostering cooperation and partnership among entities that are working together to protect fish populations.

In addition to learning about the technical aspect of fisheries restoration work, CCC corpsmembers learn how to better care for their natural environment while developing a strong work ethic, marketable job skills, and a sense of community. Corpsmembers also reap the rewards of becoming part of something bigger than themselves, achieving a sense of responsibility to society as a whole. 

Awards

The Restoration Program was honored for its “conservation excellence” in 1996, when it received an award from the Chevron Corporation and the Times/ Mirror magazines. Four years earlier, Renew America presented the Program’s Fortuna Center with a National Award for Environmental Sustainability. Renew America said of the program, it “is successful because it provides quality service at a reasonable cost to a broad group of Californians, young men and women learn valuable job skills, thousands of miles of anadromous fish habitat are restored, and citizens who rely on the revenue generated from salmon and steelhead for their livelihood continue to have jobs.”

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